Combination compressor-condenser

ABSTRACT

A combination compressor and condenser assembly for an automobile air conditioning system which has a cylindrical compressor housing with a drive shaft extending axially from the end of the housing. An annular member is connected at its opposite edges to the housing and forms a condenser cavity between the cylindrical housing and the member for cooling refrigerant which is discharged from the compressor through a port in the housing. An air shroud encircles the annular member to form an air passage adjacent the condenser cavity and conducts a flow of air discharged from an integral pulley-fan assembly which is connected to the compressor&#39;&#39;s drive shaft.

United States Patent Jacobs COMBINATION COMPRESSOR-CONDENSER James W. Jacobs, Dayton, Ohio General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich.

Filed: Apr. 10, 1972 Appl. No.: 242,410

Inventor:

Assignee:

US. Cl. 62/507, 62/513, 415/178 Int. Cl. F25b 39/04 Field of Search 415/177, 178;

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/1955 lmepatore a a1 62/498 x 10/1965 Laskey et a1 415/178 x Aug. 28, 1973 Primary Examiner-Meyer Perlin Assistant Examiner-Ronald C. Capossela [57] ABSTRACT A combination compressor and condenser assembly for an automobile air conditioning system which has a cy- 3Claims,3DrawingFigures Patented Aug. 28, 1973 3,754,410

COMBINATION COMPRESSOR-CONDENSER This invention relates to automobile air conditioning systems and particularly to a combination compressor and condenser assembly for such systems.

The rapid increase in the number of components or accessories in the engine compartment of an automobile and the resultant decrease in available space has increased the desirability of combining related components into a compact assembly. Such a combination assembly is compact and often more economical than separate components. In addition, connections between the formerly separate components can often be simplified or eliminated.

Presently, in automobile air conditioning. a refrigerant compressor and condenser are separate components which are connected by refrigerant hoses. The condenser is normally located adjacent the cooling system radiator. This can have an undesirable effect on the cooling capacity of the radiator.

The present combined compressor and condenser assembly eliminates the separate condenser in front of the radiator and provides adequate condensing of refrigerant in adjacent annular passages encircling the compressor housing. The innermost annular passage is filled with hot refrigerant from the compressor while the outer passage passes cooling air over the wall between the two passages. An integral pulley-fan assembly drives the compressor and also passes air through the outer passage for cooling the refrigerant.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a compact and simple combination compressor and condenser assembly.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combination compresssor and condenser assembly with an adjacent refrigerant passage and air passage around the compressor housing and a pulley-fan assembly attached to the compressors drive shaft for causing air to flow through the air passage for cooling refrigerant.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which a preferred embodiment is clearly shown.

In the drawing:

FIG. I is a schematic illustration of an automobile air conditioning system including the combination compressor-condenser assembly; and

FIG. 2 is a partially sectioned view of the compressor-condenser assembly; and

FIG. 3 is a sectioned view taken along section line 3-3 in FIG. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

In FIG. 1 of the drawings, a compressor-condenser assembly is illustrated. In assembly 10, refrigerant is pressurized, then cooled and liquefied. The compressor is driven bya pulley-fan member 12 which is connected to a shaft 14 of the compressor. A plurality of grooves 16 in the circumferential surface of the pulley-fan member 12 are adapted to engage drive belts (not shown) which extend around the power shaft of an internal combustion engine. The pressurized liquid refrigerant flows out from the compressor'condenser assembly 10 through a conduit 18 to a receiver-dryer assembly 20. In assembly 20, vaporous refrigerant is separated from liquid refrigerant which then flows into a conduit 22. Fittings 24 and 26 sealingly connect the conduits l8 and 22 to the dryer-receiver 20. Dessic'ant materials within the dryer-receiver remove any moisture entrained in the refrigerant.

The refrigerant flows in the conduit 22 to a thermal expansion valve 28 where it is expanded to a lower pressure. The low pressure refrigerant flows from the expansion valve 28 through a conduit 30 into the lower portion 32 of an evaporator 34. In the evaporator 34, the liquid refrigerant boils and is evaporated by the passage of relatively warm air through the evaporator prior to entering the auto passenger compartment. The refrigerant vapor moves to the upper portion 36 of the evaporator 34 and then is drawn through a conduit 38 to a suction throttling valve assembly 40. From valve 40 to the refrigerant flows through a conduit 48 to the compressor inlet.

The quantity of refrigerant entering evaporator 34 is regulated by opening and closing a valve member within the expansion valve 28. The valve member is moved in response to the pressure level in a refrigerantfilled capillary tube 42. The end of the capillary tube 42 forms a thermal bulb 44 which is in good heat transfer contact with the outlet conduit 38. When the temperature of refrigerant leaving the evaporator 34 increases; the corresponding pressure increase within the capillary tube 42 causes the expansion valve 28 to move to a more opened position to permit more liquid refrigerant into the evaporator and thus increase its capacity to cool. When the temperature of the refrigerant in the conduit 38 decreases, the expansion valve 28 closes to reduce the quantity of liquid refrigerant within evaporator 34.

The suction throttling valve assembly 40 controls the discharge of refrigerant from the evaporator by restricting refrigerant flow to the compressor. The throttling valve 40 responds by closing to decreasing pressure within the evaporator 34 to restrict refrigerant flow from the evaporator. This prevents evaporator temperature from falling below 32F. and keeps the evaporator from accumulating frost which would restrict air flow through the evaporator.

An oil-bleed line 50 connects the lower portion 32 of the evaporator to the suction line 48 for passing any lubricating oil which collects the lower portion 32 of the evaporator to the compressor.

The compressor-condenser assembly 10, best shown in FIG. 2, includes a housing formedby a forward end member 52, a rear end member 54 and a cylindrical side member 56. Members 52, 54 and 56 enclose a cylindrical compression chamber 58. Refrigerant leakage is prevented between members 52, 54 and 56 by O-ring sealing means 60. Drive shaft 14 is centrally supported by the members 52 and 54 and is rotatable within a ball bearing assembly 62 at the forward end and a needle bearing assembly 64 at the rearward end of the compressor. Drive shaft 14 has aradially outwardly extending-rotor portion 66 adapted' to rotate within the compression chamber 58. The internal faces 68;and 70 of members 52 and 54 respectively are nonplanar and curved in a sinusoidal shape to produce both a high area 72and a low area 74 on the members 52 and 54. The rotor 66 is slotted in an axial direction to receive vanes (not visible in FIG. 2) which reciprocate axially as they rotate with the rotor 66 and move along the end faces 68 and 70 of members 52 and 54.

Refrigerant enters the compressor through an inlet 46 in rear member 54 and then passes through a passage 76 or through a central passage 78 in shaft 14. It

then flows into the compression chamber 58 through a port 80 located at the low areas 74 on the members 52 and 54. After compression, the refrigerant flows through outlet 82 into a condenser cavity 84 formed around the member 56 by an annular band 86. The opposite edges of the band 86 are attached to member 56 by brazing or welding to form the sealed annular condenser cavity 84. Corrugated fins 88 may be placed within the cavity 84 to increase heat transfer as is illustrated in FlGS. 2 and 3. A cylindrical air shroud 90 encircles the band 86 to form an annular air passage 92 adjacent the cavity 84. Corrugated fins 94 may be placed in the air passage 92 to increase the transfer of heat from refrigerant in cavity 84 through the wall 86 to air flowing through the passage 92. The refrigerant from the compressor is pumped into condenser cavity 84 where it is cooled and liquefied by this heat transfer. From the condenser cavity 84, the liquefied and cooled refrigerant passes into conduit 18.

Refrigerant leakage from the compressor is prevented by a seal assembly 96 surrounding the shaft 14. Seal assembly 96 includes a stationary member 98 and a rotatable member 100 both of which encircle shaft 14. They are pressed in an axial direction against each other by a spring 102 to form a seal. A clip l04supports one end of the spring 102. An O-ring 106 prevents fluid leakage between the member 98 and the member 52. An expandable retaining ring 108 holds the seal assembly 96 to end member 52.

The shaft 14 is rotated by belts which engage grooves 16 in the pulley-fan assembly 12. The belts also engage the power shaft of the auto engine. The pulley 12 is attached to shaft 14 by a retaining ring 110 which engages a groove 112 in the end of the shaft. A key 114 in a keyway 116 prohibits relative rotation between pulley l2 and shaft 14. The pulley is of generally cylindrical shape and has air inlet passages 118 extending generally in an axial direction through the pulley fan 12. The air passages 1 18 are spaced around the axis of the pulley-fan assembly 12 and are separated one from another by wall portions or blades 120. These blades 120 may be helical with respect to the axis of the compressor or extend only in an axial direction. Air flows from the front of the pulley-fan assembly through the passages l 18 and through the air passage 92 formed by shroud 90. Heat is transferred from the refrigerant within the condenser cavity 84 through band member 86 to the air by fins 88 and 94.

While the embodiment illustrated is a preferred embodiment, other embodiments may be adapted.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. An integral compressor and condenser assembly for automobile air conditioning systems comprising: a drive shaft mounted centrally in a compressor housing; compressing means within said housing operably connected to said shaft for pressurizing refrigerant when said shaft is rotated; an annular band member spaced radially outward from said compressor housing and joined along its opposite edges to said housing which forms a condenser cavity therebetween for cooling refrigerant discharged from said compressor means; a discharge port extending through the compressor housing and into said condenser cavity to pass relatively warm refrigerant into said condenser cavity; a cylindrical shroud member encircling said annular band member forming an axially extending air passage which is separated from refrigerant within said compressor cavity by said annular band member whereby air passing through said air passage absorbs heat from refrigerant in said condenser cavity; a combination pulley-fan member attached to the end of said shaft which extends from said housing adapted to be rotated by the automobile engine; said pulley-fan member having air inlets in its front end which extend through the member in a substantially axial direction which are aligned with said annular air passage inside said shroud; said air inlets being circumferentially located and separated by radially directed wall portions of said pulley-fan member to cause air to be drawn into said air inlets and discharged between said shroud and said band member for cooling refrigerant in said adjacent condenser cavity.

. 2. An integral compressor and condenser assembly for an automobile air conditioning system comprising: a drive shaft mounted centrally in a compressor housing; compressing means within said housing operably connected to said shaft for pressurizing refrigerant as said shaft is rotated; an annular band member spaced radially outward from saidcompressor housing and joined along its opposite edges to said housing which forms a condenser cavity therebetween for cooling refrigerant discharged from said compressor means; a discharge port extending through the compressor housing and into said condenser cavity to pass relatively warm refrigerant into said condensing cavity; a cylindrical shroud member encircling said band member and forming an axially extendng air passage which is separated from refrigerant in said condenser cavity by said annular band member whereby air passing through said air passage absorbs heat from refrigerant in said condenser cavity; a corrugated fin-strip member within said condenser cavity for increasing the heat transferred from said refrigerant through said annular band member; a corrugated fin-strip member in said air passage between said band member and said air shroud for increasing the heat transferred from said band member to air in the air passage; a combination pulley-fan member attached to the end of said shaft which extends from said housing adapted to be rotated by the automobile engine; said pulley-fan member having air inlets in its front end which extend through the member in a substantially axial direction which are aligned with said annular air passage inside said shroud; said air inlets being circumferentially located and separated by radially directed wall portions of said pulley-fan member to cause air to be drawn into said air inlets and discharged between said shroud and said band member for cooling refrigerant in said adjacent condenser cavity.

3. An automotive air conditioning system comprising: an integral compressor-condenser assembly having a refrigerant inlet for introducing lower pressure refrigerant to the compressor and an outlet for discharging relatively higher pressure refrigerant; expansion means connected to said outlet for expanding refrigerant from a high pressure to a lower pressure; an evaporator fluidly connected to said expansion means and in contact with air flowing into the automobile passenger compartment for transmitting heat from the air to refrigerant in said evaporator whereby it is vaporized subsequent to returning to the compressor; said compressorcondenser assembly including a cylindrical compressor housing encircled by a radially outwardly spaced annular band member whose opposite edges are attached to said housing to form a compressor cavity therebetween; means fluidly connecting said compressor to the being circumferentially spaced and'separated by radial wall portions to form fan blades to pass air into said air inlet and between said annular band member and said air shroud; corrugated fin-strips in said condenser cavity and in said air passage for efficiently transmitting heat from refrigerant through said annular band member to air in said air passage. 

1. An integral compressor and condenser assembly for automobile air conditioning systems comprising: a drive shaft mounted centrally in a compressor housing; compressing means within said housing operably connected to said shaft for pressurizing refrigerant when said shaft is rotated; an annular band member spaced radially outward from said compressor housing and joined along its opposite edges to said housing which forms a condenser cavity therebetween for cooling refrigerant discharged from said compressor means; a discharge port extending through the compressor housing and into said condenser cavity to pass relatively warm refrigerant into said condenser cavity; a cylindrical shroud member encircling said annular band member forming an axially extending air passage which is separated from refrigerant within said compressor cavity by said annular band member whereby air passing through said air passage absorbs heat from refrigerant in said condenser cavity; a combination pulleyfan member attached to the end of said shaft which extends from said housing adapted to be rotated by the automobile engine; said pulley-fan member having air inlets in its front end which extend through the member in a substantially axial direction which are aligned with said annular air passage inside said shroud; said air inlets being circumferentially located and separated by radially directed wall portions of said pulley-fan member to cause air to be drawn into said air inLets and discharged between said shroud and said band member for cooling refrigerant in said adjacent condenser cavity.
 2. An integral compressor and condenser assembly for an automobile air conditioning system comprising: a drive shaft mounted centrally in a compressor housing; compressing means within said housing operably connected to said shaft for pressurizing refrigerant as said shaft is rotated; an annular band member spaced radially outward from said compressor housing and joined along its opposite edges to said housing which forms a condenser cavity therebetween for cooling refrigerant discharged from said compressor means; a discharge port extending through the compressor housing and into said condenser cavity to pass relatively warm refrigerant into said condensing cavity; a cylindrical shroud member encircling said band member and forming an axially extendng air passage which is separated from refrigerant in said condenser cavity by said annular band member whereby air passing through said air passage absorbs heat from refrigerant in said condenser cavity; a corrugated fin-strip member within said condenser cavity for increasing the heat transferred from said refrigerant through said annular band member; a corrugated fin-strip member in said air passage between said band member and said air shroud for increasing the heat transferred from said band member to air in the air passage; a combination pulley-fan member attached to the end of said shaft which extends from said housing adapted to be rotated by the automobile engine; said pulley-fan member having air inlets in its front end which extend through the member in a substantially axial direction which are aligned with said annular air passage inside said shroud; said air inlets being circumferentially located and separated by radially directed wall portions of said pulley-fan member to cause air to be drawn into said air inlets and discharged between said shroud and said band member for cooling refrigerant in said adjacent condenser cavity.
 3. An automotive air conditioning system comprising: an integral compressor-condenser assembly having a refrigerant inlet for introducing lower pressure refrigerant to the compressor and an outlet for discharging relatively higher pressure refrigerant; expansion means connected to said outlet for expanding refrigerant from a high pressure to a lower pressure; an evaporator fluidly connected to said expansion means and in contact with air flowing into the automobile passenger compartment for transmitting heat from the air to refrigerant in said evaporator whereby it is vaporized subsequent to returning to the compressor; said compressor-condenser assembly including a cylindrical compressor housing encircled by a radially outwardly spaced annular band member whose opposite edges are attached to said housing to form a compressor cavity therebetween; means fluidly connecting said compressor to the compressor cavity for transmitting pressurized and warmed refrigerant; an annular air shroud encircling said band member and forming an air passage therebetween for passing air in heat transfer relationship with the annular band member whereby heat is transmitted from refrigerant in the compressor cavity to air in the air passage; a combination pulley-fan assembly rotatable with said compressor and having axially extending air inlets aligned with said air passage; said air inlets being circumferentially spaced and separated by radial wall portions to form fan blades to pass air into said air inlet and between said annular band member and said air shroud; corrugated fin-strips in said condenser cavity and in said air passage for efficiently transmitting heat from refrigerant through said annular band member to air in said air passage. 